1,400 teachers might seek buyout

Nearly 1,400 Los Angeles Unified teachers, counselors, and administrators have signed up for early retirement - a better-than-expected response that could save the district hundreds of jobs as it braces for massive layoffs. Connie Llanos in the Daily News.

LAUSD officials are offering early retirement to employees for the first time in 17 years to save some of the 5,400 jobs that were eliminated earlier this month to close a $596 million budget gap.

District officials said it was too soon to know exactly how many jobs would be saved by the early retirement program but Superintendent Ramon Cortines said he was happy with the number of retirement volunteers, who will help keep younger employees in their jobs.